The new National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame has announced an initial group of its inaugural class, which includes athletes, media members, a professional sports team and others. Outsports is a very proud to be named to the inaugural class.
The Hall of Fame is based in Chicago at the Center on Halstead. It was created by longtime community stalwart Bill Gubrud and others to honor the achievements of LGBT people in sports.
From the organization's press release:
The induction of the first honorees will happen on August 2, 2013 through a ceremony at the Center on Halsted in conjunction with Out at Wrigley on August 3, 2013 - the nation's largest "Gay Day" at a major league sporting event. Tickets for the induction ceremony will go on sale June 17th.
The current list of inductees includes former MLB player Glenn Burke; ESPN contributor Christina Kahrl; former tennis pro Renee Richards; tennis legend Martina Navratilova; former Olympic diver Greg Louganis; tennis legend Billie Jean King; NBA player Jason Collins; ESPN and CNN contributor LZ Granderson; Gay Games founder Dr. Tom Waddell; professional boxer Orlando Cruz; former Major League Lacrosse goalie Andrew Goldstein; Standup Foundation head Ben Cohen; "Bleacher Preacher" Jerry Pritikin; the Chicago Cubs; Outsports.com; International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA); and Anheuser-Busch
Additional nominations for the first Hall of Fame class will be accepted through the month of June; Outsports will be nominating groundbreaking former NFL running back David Kopay, who in 1975 became the first professional athlete to come out publicly. His coming out was named Outsports' most important moment in LGBT sports history.
More information can be found at the Hall of Fame's Web site.
Comments
Three wins and a hug mistake
Wow!
I know I would disagree with one.
Jason Collins has no business being here.
He has no time in grade.
Hero? Yeah. Eventually?
Now? Not worthy.
My opinion, anyway.
By BillToscano on 06.17.13 7:08pm
Agreed. Most legitimate halls of fame have some sort of post-retirement waiting period before someone could be added. This should be honoring history, not the present.
By CJBinATX on 06.18.13 8:26am
Problems
I don’t have a problem with Collins, but how could they possibly skip over Kopay? And why Anheuser-Busch? And especially why the Cubs? Because some guy in Chicago created this? How does that make it a NATIONAL Hall of Fame? How about if I start one and call it the International LGBTQIQetc Hall of Fame and put the Phillies in there (Gay Community Night at the Phillies number ELEVEN coming up in two months)?
Oh, and congrats to Outsports.
By Joe in Philly on 06.17.13 9:58pm
Center on Halsted?
Its amazing that COH does everything but honor its mission statement. This is just another piece of fluff that takes away from the real work they’re supposed to be doing. Unbelievably arrogant.
By chicagocraig on 06.18.13 9:28am